Fact Check: Private Security and Crime in Johannesburg Squatter Camps

Are they rubber bullets? What kind of Are they Are they rubber bullets?

>> No, sir, they are not. No, they're not? >> No. They're normal bullets, shotgun shotgun

cartridges. Shotgun cartridges, yes. For what For what In what In what eventuality would they be used? Sir,

they will only be used if they fire at us, then we will retaliate with fire. Johannesburg.

In this city of widespread poverty and unemployment, residents have found themselves increasingly besieged by

crime. I take your wife I put you a knife here. Like example, you see the blood. I say I

finish up now. You don't give me money or you give me. What can you say? Despairing of the police and the courts,

they've turned to an industry of private security offering protection for a price.

It's quite a weird atmosphere, isn't it? Feels a little bit lawless. I was here to try to understand the

causes of the crime and to find out whether these private police are really a solution

or another part of the problem. In Britain, this would be considered too much. If we beat him like this,

he won't do this again. He won't steal again. He won't steal again.

[Music] On the outskirts of Johannesburg is a township come squatter camp called

Diepsloot. It's only existed since 1994 and now has more than 150,000 residents.

Most of them migrants from rural areas and neighboring countries. I was here with William MnGoni, the

local coordinator for a security firm called Mapogo. What does it mean when someone goes like

that at you as you drive past? What does that mean? No, I didn't see him. I saw someone do that. No, I didn't see him.

What does it mean? Means you must be killed. It's a threat. It's a threat? Yeah.

Why would they do that to us? No, you'll never know. You'll never know.

You'll never know. Are you worried about You worried about >> No, I'm worried about you. You're

worried about >> myself. >> About us? What about what happening to

us? If you see what them walking collecting gathering together The people? You're going to be in danger.

What does it mean? Well, they can start hitting you with the stones. They can start

shooting because there's plenty of the guns around here. Then we can't stay on one place for a We

can't stay in one place? No. Why not, William? No, you can't afford it. You will never stop it.

What I'm trying to understand, William, is that because I don't I don't know anything about this area and about South

Africa. Joburg's got this reputation as being very dangerous, having a lot of violent

crime. Yeah, because a lot of unemployment people. A lot of unemployment?

>> Yeah. You can see most of us here we are are not working. They must look another way

of living. It's just the same if you are hungry. You must try it

cut the fence up then you can pick up something to eat. If you don't do that then you have no

food. William lives in a house on a hill overlooking the township of Diepsloot.

It also serves as the local headquarters of Mapogo. What do you do? What does your

organization do? >> Our organization save people that has got problems like

shop owners, home owners of the houses, the residents. If they've got problem like the

uh these scullions are trying to break break into their houses or rob them.

Mapogo helps them from that. You call them scullions? Or we can call them suspects.

And if you find the suspects, what then? Uh we Mapogo if we find the suspension we give him some medicine then give him

either give him to the police or let him go. And what do you mean by medicine? Medicine is you know

forcing somebody to talk something he he did and he didn't want to say it. You using some physical

punishment? >> Yeah, we have got a certain punishments of Mapogo only to let it let him talk.

And that's what makes Mapogo famous famous. And controversial, too, isn't it? Cuz

it's not strictly legal, is it? >> No, no, no, no, it's not legal. So, you're a little like an unofficial

police force. >> That's it. Yeah. People in Diepsloot have little faith in

the real police seeing them as unreliable and slow to respond. For those residents who can't afford the

services of William and Mapogo, they rely on a volunteer group headed up by Walter Lesole.

Hi. My name is Walter. How do you do? I'm the chairperson of this sector. And what

do you do here? Yeah, this is sector police. You are watching the community. Really? Yeah. So, now like as you see we

are battling we are trying to get some donations so that we can to build our office. What What happened

to your office? Uh it's like they did burn it. Like I don't know. It's last year last of last year, yeah. Who burned

it? I don't know. But it was those uh criminals. I don't know. Is there a lot of crime in this area in

Diepsloot? Yeah, but mostly during the morning and during the night. What kind of thing?

Someone just attacking people and then robbing them their belongings in the morning. Is it

desperate hungry people that do it or or or bad people? Those are bad people. >> You think so?

>> Yeah, those are bad people. Because you can find them during the day roaming around here. Roaming? Yeah, it's

up and down. Maybe drinking or doing everything or smoking those things or whatever. When you hear someone's been

robbed, what do you do? We're trying to track that criminal. Sometimes you catch him, sometimes you don't catch that

criminal. So, and then take the matter straight to the police.

So, they take time but we are helping them. [Music]

In the heart of Johannesburg, an area called Hillbrow is the stomping ground of a security company called Bad Boys

run by Hendrik de Klerk. How's it going? Nice to meet you.

Much of their activity involves reclaiming and securing buildings that have been taken over or hijacked by

criminal gangs who illegally take rent from tenants. What are the telltale signs of

this building being hijacked? Um telltale signs is uh broken windows, dirty, pavement has not been looked

after, no lightning at night. You can see the washing hanging from the trees. It's actually a beautiful example. And

the people who live here are paying rent to the hijackers. >> hijackers, yeah. Are the hijackers in

there now, do you think? No, no, no. They just all their heavy their heavies around coming checking collecting rent

especially month end. >> Heavies? Are they like mafia guys? >> Mafia guys, yeah. Could we go in there?

Is there any Could we go in See anything if we go in there? We go here. You can actually see the

just don't stand here throw you a thing. You can actually see the decay. No plumbing,

no maintenance at all, broken doors. Broken windows and it's What was going on in there? Cuz

that Is that an apartment? >> It's a tavern. >> Yeah. And um here's electrical boxes

that's been damaged, illegal connections and stuff. Here's broken staircases as well and

two dustbins in the whole building. How are these buildings I mean are they breeding places for crime? Yes, yes, a

lot a lot. Um your small street soldiers, the guys that snatch the phones and smash the

windows at robot peak hour and grab phones and handbags. They live in buildings like this and then they take

the phones and the stuff to your Nigerians whoever purchases the stuff. You said robot peak hour. That's what Is

that rush hour? Smash and grab, yeah. Smash and grab at stop signs. It's at stops at stops at stops at night time.

This building we had quite a bit of nonsense. The guys were shooting at us with AK-47s at night. They used to shoot

at the police officers. This was one of the first hijacked buildings and the guy that hijacked the

building used to call himself Hitler. So, he ran his own little showdown there and eventually he died

cliff by the sword he died by the sword. He got shot in in the building there as well, the hijacker himself. Who shot

him? Um the other hijacking group that took over. Yeah.

Once the buildings are reclaimed, Bad Boys take over the management and protect the tenants in what is one of

the city's highest crime areas. Are any of these guys out here actual drug dealers? Most of them. Most of

them? Do you recognize any of them? Um I know a lot of faces.

Do you? Yeah. Uh where's the chairman? Where's chairman? Where's the chairman, the tall

one? Chairman? Yeah. Who's the chairman? Yeah, they

they got their own chairman. They got their own boss. And what do And what do you do here? You

You run a business? He's the chairman. who runs all the businesses, yeah.

If you ask me on my own on my own opinion, I would say he's doing a bad job, but they're doing their work. Bad

boys are doing it. >> Yeah, they're they're they're they're trying, you see, because all over

Hillbrow bad boys now take over. That's why the crime is not too much like before. It's getting better, you think?

>> Yeah, yeah. You think it's getting better? Yeah, I see. And how do you two know each other? Uh

long time. Just mutual respect. You've known each other a few years? >> a few years. And you get on quite well?

Very well. Would you Would you agree? You get on pretty well? Yeah, yeah, I

know him, yeah. He's my boss, you see. Thanks, chief. Thanks. >> No

with him. Yeah, yeah. But what does he actually do? He's the chairman. He's in charge of

everyone, yeah, all the criminal elements. Really? And um what I say to him is um he's the Yeah, yes,

yes. And what I say to him is our understanding is stay away from our buildings, leave our tenants alone.

You do your business. My business is not on the street. I'm not getting paid to uh look after the street corner.

But if you interfere with my business, there's hell to pay. If you interfere with one of my tenants, there's hell to

pay. And I got a message. Who are these guys around him?

>> That's his lieutenants and stuff. And then on the corners is these boys, all the guys.

So the guys who the guys who do who who deals drugs? They're behind everything some way

somehow. They're behind everything. So you have to kind of work with those guys a little bit. No, they must work with

me. This is my area, they must work with me. I don't want problems, yeah. [Music]

With public services overstretched, the police sometimes call on private agencies to back them up on big jobs.

In Hillbrow again, Bad Boys and a company called Red Ants were helping with the eviction of a hijacked

building. I was riding along with the deputy director of Red Ants, Fanie van Heerden.

[Music] Are they already going in? What's happening? Is this the building? That's

the house there. They secure the premises. >> So the the cops have already gone in

with their guns. >> Yeah, they go in to secure the building and take out all the illegal immigrants

that's there. And once they are finished, then we will move in to remove the people from the

building. Sheriff, can I talk to you for a second? Yeah, sure. One of the officers just

fired some shots. Maybe some warning assistance, I don't know. I spoke.

Weird atmosphere, isn't it? Feels a little bit lawless. What do you think?

Yeah, what what can we do? [Music]

Jesus Christ, he's just firing at those guys. What's happening? We just finished it

before we go in. They're just making sure everybody is out. So the guys who come out first who are

put on the ground there are the most dangerous characters? >> No, what they do is they take the guys

out, then they search them there. They make sure they're citizens. If they're not South African citizens, they get

arrested. Right. And also for illegal firearms. It seemed like the police were firing rubber bullets to disperse small

crowds. Is that Yeah, to disperse them from gathering. Because why?

Because if they gather like this, any stage they're going to attack you. As a mob? As a mob, yeah, that's why.

>> That could really happen. Within seconds it will happen. Within seconds. Were you living in this building?

Yeah, it's like uh we are renting this building and now we are surprised that we were sleeping and then someone come

and kick the door open and we're told to get dressed and possessions laid down on the floor.

According to these guys, the owner says that um it's been illegally occupied and that he's not getting rent from it. So

who who are you paying your rent to? There's a there's this other black guy who told us that he's an agent to the

this white to the owner of the house. Yeah. Uh so he's coming here every every month to come and collect the rent.

Really? Yes. So you're paying the rent to the wrong guy, it sounds like. >> One of them said they were paying rent

to a guy who they thought was the agent of the owner. And normally you see these >> 150 rand a month. Yeah, these guys get

caught by that. They think they're paying to the real owner. But in fact they're paying to the

there's a person who hijacked the building. Normally we we help them to take the

children out with them. Uh but if you think it on the owner's side of the building, he's losing every

month, every day they're staying here, he's losing. It must be quite dangerous going into these places sometimes.

People do get hurt. We do lose people, yeah. >> How often?

Two or three a month. Lose people? >> Lose people, yeah. Or get killed? In

fights, yes. Red Ants do? Red Ants and then civilians as well. If they tackle you hand to hand, they fight you combat

hand to hand. You've got no choice to defend yourself and that's what that close combat,

that's where you you get your injuries. With the building emptied, Bad Boys had arrived on the scene. Leading the team

was Bad Boys co-director, Lionel Williams. So what's happening here? You're going to send in your guys now?

Yeah, the Red Ants going to finish now with the police. And then we will just secure the building after the eviction.

So that nobody else go back into the building. Nobody's allowed to go inside. So we're going to lock up the building

and secure the building. Okay, stand you two guys where you are. Two guys come with me. We going inside.

[Music] Do the criminals and the hijackers ever try and take the buildings back from

you? Certain not from us. Certain buildings, but not from not from Bad Boys.

>> Bad Boys. Not from Bad Boys. We didn't have one attempt. Really? Yet. How come the hijackers don't try to

chase you out of the building? Because we can fight. We can fight any which way you want us

to fight, we can fight. Can fight with the law, we can fight within the law. And we got different other tactics we

can do. We we a force to be reckoned with. Let me tell you something. For for for the

hijackers, they know. We we don't look for the fight. But if they want to pick a fight, then

we're not going to stand back. You can get pushed so far and that's it.

[Music] On the outskirts of Diepsloot, I'd had a call from William of Mapoko to say he

had a suspect in custody. The man was alleged to have been stealing cell phones.

William. Hello, hello, hello. How are you doing? Fine. What's going on here?

Hello, well, we got him, he's in the car now. You've got your suspect. >> Yeah.

Is that the guy in there? Yeah, well. It looks like he's bleeding a little bit. Yeah, well. Is he bleeding a little bit?

Yeah, he got the medicine. What What's he suspected of doing? Yeah, that's uh from

uh taking uh robbing people for money and all these watches, cell phones. What

makes you think it's the right guy? The right guy, we got one of the cell phone to him, we have given back to the owner.

He had one of the stolen He could have bought the stolen phone, I suppose. He could He can show us where.

What did you do to him exactly? Uh I shamboked. You shamboked him. Where's the shambok? Uh well, that's uh we're

not supposed Well, produce it on the thing on the film, it

doesn't Doesn't look good. No, it's not unlawful. The medicine. This is the medicine, but

don't use it. But don't use it. >> No, we've already used it. That's what you whipped him with just

now? Yeah, I know the good ones there, they're about the educations. Not that one, but one like it? No, this one is

too heavy. That's a a smaller one than that. Disturbed by the goings-on, I tried to

speak to the beaten man. No English? Then asked my fixer, Sydney, to

interpret. He doesn't want to talk. Is he frightened and and hurt? Is that

[Music] Can you tell what's what's happened here?

They've just taken him because he committed some crimes, they think. Is that right? No, he did commit a crime.

You think he did? Yeah, we heard that him and his friends, they pointed some other people with gun, they took Really?

Yeah. Mhm. He didn't want to talk, yeah. William,

did you shambok him yourself? No, no, the guys I can't I'm not allowed to do it anymore. Why?

I'm on suspended for five years. Are you? Yeah. I mustn't do that. If I do that, they

lock me up now and now and now. Really? I must wait till the Which Which guys did it? The one this

guy here. Yeah, that guy and another one. How do you do?

So you were doing part of the How do you do? I'm Louis. Abraham. Were you doing part of the

interrogation? Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's me. Yeah.

It's quite uh brutal. Quite brutal. A little bit? Yeah. What do you think?

You think it's good to do this? Yes. It's good for the community. Is it? For the community it's

good. In Britain this would be considered too much. Uh Too much. Yeah. Almost every

time we do things like this. Beating him. Yeah, we beat him. That's how my bad boys work. That's how

Mapogo works. Does it work? Yeah. How?

Yeah, you see some If you beat him like this, he won't do this again.

He won't steal again. He won't steal again. He won't. Never.

William, are you calling the police now? >> Yeah, I will. And will they come and pick him up?

Yeah, they can come with no problem. They know Mapogo. If we wanted to see this guy's wounds,

would that be allowed? No, no, no. You don't want to show them? Why not? No, that's

he's going to If we do it that way, then the police is going to tell the police then we will be

in trouble. Where is this? Is there a chance if the police see that he's been beaten

that they will >> They are going to phone me up and then we talk. Really? Yeah.

Might Might Abraham Might Abraham get in trouble? >> Yeah, well, they will have to face me

cuz I'm the ringleader. And then what will you say? No, there's some plans of dealing. They must get

money. If you haven't got money, nothing will come all right. They're just going to lock him up.

Must have money to do do that. You'll make a donation to the police? >> Yeah, if I don't do that then they're

going to lock me up. The aftermath of the interrogation was strange to witness.

I wasn't sure what to make of William's casual descriptions of the violence or whether to believe his claims of police

corruption. I wondered if his clients knew about his techniques.

A little later, we visited the manager of a nearby farm. This is one of your big contracts?

>> Yeah. For many years and years, yeah. For years? For how long? Oh, how long we

have 10 years. 11 years. Does the farm here pay Mapogo a subscription to keep an eye

on the place? >> Yes. Yes, we have a retainer fee

and he charges us for armed guards. And it costs quite a lot of money, but you know, if I lose 10 head of cattle,

it's the amount that I pay him is is minimal. But you're looking at, you

know, 25,000 rand a month. What is that? 150 plus pounds a month? Yeah.

Which in South Africa is quite a lot. Yeah, it is, but you know, without that

we'd be in serious trouble. Really? Yeah, I mean, I haven't touched the cattle

here since they've been here. But before that we had major problems. In the past,

they've been criticized for having quite harsh techniques including interrogating and some corporal

I believe so, but I haven't seen much of it. Police do nothing. So, you know,

what can you do? If you knew for a fact, say, that William's techniques were slightly rough

around the edges, you would think that was okay, you know, that's because of the seriousness of the

situation? >> Well, yeah, you know, I hate to say it, but it's

it would appear to be an African solution for an African problem.

[Music] Down in the main area of Deepsloot, there were reports of unrest.

I went to see Walter, the sector police volunteer, to find out more. How are you doing, Walter? How are you?

Good to see you. Thanks a lot. How's it going? All right, sir. What's going on?

They were burning some people inside here. They were burning people? Who was burning people? The mob, I

think. I guess I can say the community. Really? Yeah, but I was not around. I just hear from the phone they told me

that they somebody was killed inside. Someone was killed when? Last night?

>> No. This morning? What are you going to do about it? Now, I have to go inside and then I have to

look at the situation now. What was the motive? The motive they said these people they

were attacking people, robbing them last night.

But they was robbing them their belongings, cell phones, everything. What they got them killed.

>> around robbing people? No, that mob was They They Yeah, the community just respond. So,

the mob It was like a vigilante mob who cornered the guys who'd been doing

the robbing? Yeah. And killed him? Yeah. Really? How did they kill him? No, they always used the stones and

after that they pour petrol in them burn somebody. Was this where he was killed? Yeah, he

is where >> One of them? Yeah, he is where one of them was uh

was killed. So, I think this is the blood. The blood's underneath. That's why the

the the dirt's on there. >> Yeah, that's why they put the soil, I think. So, how did they kill him? What

did they use? They said they used bricks. On his head? Yeah, you saw there a big hole there.

Did the police come? They just came when the guy said he is dead. Yeah, they already got that guy. to help or rescue

the guy. Do you think he was a criminal? Yeah, that's because the the one lady

that I know she shows that guy with shows that that guy with the This guy

was taking my cell phone. She pointed the guy out to the community. I mean, people are killed like chicken

chickens. But people are killed like chickens? Yeah. How How often does something like that happen here? I mean,

there's two this morning. Even last week. Last week it happened again? Yeah, they burned somebody down there also.

Can you try and find the ringleaders? Yeah, but that is what I'm going to get, but we have to get it. It will take time

because we have to go through information. Is it possible there are one or two guys who are mainly

responsible? Yeah, it may be. But you will find that mostly those

people that they've been robbed. Really? Yeah. Back at Walter's headquarters, a recent

victim of a shooting wanted to share his frustration. When there's crime like this, what can

be what can we do to solve this problem? Can you give us some at least a plan

because the police they're failing. They're totally failing. They just run through the roads. These are the people

they commit crime around corners. Really? You see, that's how it's very

much difficult to to apprehend these guys. Where were you shot? Can you show us?

Here. It must come out from here. And um

that looks like it would have been quite serious. >> went to Rustenburg to report the case.

After they told me to bring the witness instead of the police coming to the scene of the crime, they never came. I

dropped the case. I never followed anything up. So, even myself, if I get someone they say

this one is a robber, I can assist to kill. Because there's no solution, which means

I must solve it on our own. In the impoverished conditions of Deepsloot, a violent response to crime

was in some ways less surprising than the ability of people like Walter to take a peaceful stand against it.

This is your place? Yes, it's my place. This is your house? Yeah. [Music]

What's that? Is that reflectors? Where did you get the uniform? It's from

the government. Is it? Yeah. When you fight crime, what do you

actually What do you do? You go on patrol? Yeah, we go on patrol. And when you go on patrol, you actually

make arrests? Isn't it quite dangerous? Yeah, it's very very very dangerous. Because it's not easy to face somebody.

For example, a criminal use a gun and you just come like me like that. Yeah, because

we are we can uh we are not fighting crime with crime ourself. So, they The thing that we are doing is just to

arrest and then take you to to the police. So, that they can detain you. That's

what we are doing. No, we don't punish anyone. You don't You don't sjambok them? No. Or punish them? No. Why not?

No, there's a there's a law. That's why I'm saying we cannot fight crime with crime. Yeah.

[Music] [Music] Friday nights tend to be the most

violent time around the hijacked buildings of Hillbrow. And I'd arranged with Bad Boys to join them on patrol.

My chaperones for the evening would be Lionel and his fellow director, Matthew Dladlu.

Have you brought a weapon with you? Yeah, we carry weapons every day. Do you? Yeah.

I mean, hand handguns. Do you You've got one here now? Of course.

All right. Wow, that's quite big one, isn't it? Yeah, it's quite big. Yeah.

Have you ever had to discharge that gun in the line of duty? >> Yes. Really? Yes. At the target, not a

warning shot. Sometimes Sometimes it's just a warning shot. Just to scare the guys a bit or scare

him off. Um Sometimes shooting at at at the

at the at the suspect itself. You've done that? Yeah, I've done it. We've done it. You too, Matthew?

Yes. Where's your gun? Ah, you want to see my gun? Yeah. Yeah, I'm always with my son

here next to me. There it is. Yeah, that's my Parabellum. I call it Parabellum Luger.

It's quite big as well. Yeah, it is big. [Music] >> We started the night close to the scene

of the eviction I'd been at. I was curious about a hijacked building I'd noticed that was more than 10 stories

high. What's this building up here? This is the one that you said was hijacked and

had no electricity. Yeah, it's I think it's just semi-hijacked. Can we have a closer

look? We can't We're not going to go inside. Why not? Because it's It's We don't want to

conflict with them now. I mean there might be guys sitting up in there. Can we have a look from closer up though?

Yeah, we can go >> Let's have a walk over there. To the top.

>> if we go inside then? They might uh you know, get a bit aggressive and stuff.

>> Who They They being who? The people who live there? >> the building. How do they get in?

Through here? Through their little holes here. What would happen if We can't go in. I

do want to go in. I Well, you can You can I don't want to go inside. Let's see what it looks like

in there. Let's see how he goes in. It's It's dark inside. >> It's very dark inside.

>> Really dark. It smells in here. I'm I'm We can go up till up to first floor. Which floor you want to?

First floor. First floor. Okay, let's go. >> Just to feel up to first floor.

So, these were the lifts once upon a time, were they? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, the stairs.

Come. Nubi I can go up? >> and then you can go.

I'll go behind you. Okay, you go. [Music]

It's very dark here. What exactly are we afraid of? There's There's guys with guns here.

They do have firearms here. All the robbers might be staying here. Come.

So, it could be a hideout. Yeah, if you can just look in here. It's It's empty. It smells in here. God.

Maybe this was for cars at one time, was it? >> Mhm.

Yeah. But, you think the hijackers of the building would live here or would live

somewhere else? >> No, they won't live here. Only the guys that maybe basically work

for them will live here. I got a hijacker is making money. He doesn't have to live here.

He can live comfortably somewhere else. Just first Hello. Hello. Hello. How are you? How

are you? [Music] Just step back of the door. Can we talk

to the people? You want to speak to this gentleman? You live here? Yes. Can we see your

room? Let's go. No problem.

So, this is your place? Yes, it's my place. I'm sleeping here. You sleep there? I'm sleeping here. You see my

pictures there. Do you Do you work? Do you have a job? I don't know. I I finished school last

year. No, I And you? I don't know. My brother just wash cars

there by time. And these two? Do you have jobs? I don't

Not doing. No. How long have you been in this apartment? Eight Eight years or nine years.

Eight years? Yes, a long long time I've stayed here. Are there people on all the floors? Yeah, all of the floors. The top

All of the floors? Yeah, all of the floors. Lionel had mentioned guys with guns, but

there were none inside that I met. Just people without jobs and without money. Oh, yeah, it was this way.

Quite horrendous. Wow, you can't live in those conditions, eh? And was it What was it? Was it quite a

nice building at one Well, as you can see it was a very nice building.

>> people? Yeah, you can see the the the the security things they had in place, the turnstiles and stuff. You can see.

There were lifts and everything Yeah, everything was just left here. A little later, and outside a bad boys'

building, a man ran past pursued by four or five assailants. [Applause]

What did you Why did you beat the Do you know Why did you beat the guy up? I can give a statement. I hit that guy. Why?

No, that's the guy that He threw the bottle at We don't know who that guy is. We don't

know where he comes from. And he smashes a bottle at us here. I mean, really now. We must not give that guy

We come OUT OF A NICE TIME. He's I don't know where he come from. So, I I punched HIM NOW AND THEN THERE

HE LAYING NOW. JUST STOP. I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS I DIDN'T DO NOTHING.

WAIT, BOSS. WAIT, BOSS. You got a big mouth, huh? Wait, boss. Come, get up. Okay, wait. Get up. You got a big fat

belly, okay? You understand me? Okay. Bro, you got a [ __ ] gun.

In the midst of the melee, bad boys had accidentally blinded each other with pepper spray.

While the victim of the original attack was bloody and semi-conscious. You okay?

Oh, man, he looks quite beat up now, man. Do you think we should call the an

ambulance for this guy? Who sprayed you? My supervisor.

Mathew, what's he saying? Does he want us to get him an an ambulance, Mathew?

Mathew, call an ambulance for you or you all right? I am all right. You all right? Why did they attack you? I don't

know. You don't know? Who are the bottle lads then? Wash your face with the water.

Come, wash your face with He's not that badly injured, but he's got a very deep cut here. But, he needs

stitches, so probably normally this phone an ambulance. That might take 2 hours to come.

That's That's the emergency services. By now I'd been in Johannesburg several weeks.

I'd been surprised by the brutality of the private police. To make themselves effective against

crime, they'd showed a worrying readiness to use violence themselves. [Music]

And things were about to take a strange and unexpected turn. My fixer Sydney had had an urgent call

from William. The details were vague, but it sounded as though William and his partner Abram might be in trouble.

What's the story? Looks like William is in trouble. Why? They came in. They were hunting for

somebody like a criminal. They caught him. They caught the criminal? Yeah, they put him inside the

van. While they were trying to drive out the community turned against William.

Against William? Yeah, because they got the wrong story, maybe. I mean,

when we go in Yes. uh do not mention William's name as if we know

him. Yeah. Please. Okay. Why not? They're going to turn against Okay.

[Applause] Right now, the crowd The crowd is angry with with the old man. The angry with

the old man. So, they they want to hurt him? Yeah, they want to hurt him. They wanted to

know where Where is the the guy they that he took

You're saying this guy, William >> William, a member of my brother Matiba. beat someone up that you know? Beat him

and knocked his teeth out? And so, why is this crowd here? This crowd We want this guy to come here in

front of us. We want justice because that >> Donald to come You want Donald to come

here? Yeah, in front of us what happened. Cuz you're saying he's not a criminal. Yeah, even if he's a criminal,

he must talk to us what happened. Cuz this guy says he's going to burn him. This William. William says he's going to

burn him? Yeah, he says he's going to burn him. Is that right? [Music]

Truly speaking, William told us that he's going to burn Donald Tlhwati. So, we can't allow him to burn Donald

Tlhwati. Can we ask him? Can I just Can we just have a quick word

with this guy? Thank you very much. You okay? Okay. William, they're saying

you beat someone up and threatened to burn him. >> No, he was He He's not I I can't use my

hands on him. Yes. He's there. He's somewhere there in in the car. They wanted to go to the police station. Let

me just go and bring him. >> These guys seem very angry with you. >> Yeah, they're very angry. Well, what can

I do cuz I'm not doing the job. I'm not hitting. Long back I used to do it myself. Now

I'm no more doing that. What was he accused of doing, the guy? Uh he was breaking the fence, the

cable electric cables. What do these people want to do to you? William.

What do they want to do to you? Uh no, well, whatever they want they can do. Are you okay? You seem a bit shaken up.

shaken up? >> Yeah, I am, well. What do they want to do to William?

They want to kill William. Yes. They want to burn him. Yeah, we want to burn him.

Cuz he told us he's going to burn that Donald White. How can he burn him? He must call the police and not beating

him. It's what the police said. They said if somebody has stolen somebody's property, don't beat him, just call the

police. How can They want to burn him. Beating him. And I thought this this leg was broken.

He can't even walk. Why but why did So you want to burn him? Yeah, that William told us that he's

going to burn him. You've been using you want to to do something to William now. It's the community service you want.

It's the community that wants to. After my encounter with the angry mob, what struck me was the people's sense of

themselves as enforcers of the law. Despairing of the police, the community has opted to take matters into its own

hands by hunting down and burning those they suspect of wrongdoing. William and the beaten man were taken to

a police station in a neighboring precinct, a safe distance from the squatter camp.

What's happened to this guy? How badly beaten is he? He doesn't have the the the

He's missing a tooth? He was beaten with the with the with the Shank bone?

With a golf club? >> Golf, yes, and And the shank bone. And shank bone?

>> Yes. So which is they know the law. Those people Mapogo?

>> William, they know the law, yes. Do you know Yeah, we know him. You know him. We used

to work with him very very well, but today I don't know what happened. [Music]

I was on my way to meet a pair of notorious criminals known since childhood to our fixer Sydney.

[Music] Since being in Johannesburg, I'd heard a great deal about the violent crime

plaguing the city. This would be a chance to get some answers from two people directly

involved in it. Do I have to be careful how I talk to them? You know, you you can be open to

them because they knows me. Mhm. Yeah, they knows me. They won't do anything to you.

Are you Maleven? I'm I'm Maleven. Yeah, nice to meet you. How's it going? Yes, yes. How are you seeing my friend? Are

you okay? Yes. And meet you. So I understand you guys you you said you you just told me you've been a a

criminal, is that right? I'm not exactly I'm a criminal. >> You are now. Even now.

>> And you too? >> Yes. What kind of crimes? Exactly hijack. Hijacking cars?

>> Yes. You too? Yes. >> Using guns? Of course, of course. You've got a gun there now? Yes.

You've both been in prison, is that right? Yeah, yes, exactly. >> months outside now. You've been out for

2 months? Now I have 2 months outside. Almost inside. About 10 years. You were inside for 10

years? For what? Two guys dead. Traffic cop. You're saying that you shot and killed

the traffic cop? 2008 I killed two, then I go inside. 98 I kill one. I go out. I

I come back I get tall. For what reason did you kill the cops? We want gun to make a money.

To take their guns? To make a money. To take their guns? Just that? When we got gun we got money.

Because when you try to make some robber they chase us. So what you going to do? You have to shoot him. You don't feel

any remorse about that? I don't feel even a shame when I do that. Why? Because of I do that job and I will die

for that job. What job? To rob, kill or whatever as long as a crime. I do crime.

All of all most of my life I like crime. Why? I never go to school so what can I do? What do you think, Sydney?

You know, I've I've I've got Maleven. No, you know, he's from a poor family.

And even his brothers they were doing He learned from his brothers. What about his parents? Didn't they Didn't they

look after him? No, his mother passed away long time and his >> what? My mother's passed away and my

father. There was a guy who call him Makusha. That guy he was my brother he's he was a

brother of my brother. And Sydney. That guy he killed a cops. Then the cops he came to my home. He

killed my father and my mother. He want my brother. He he not a cops the soldier.

He killed my father and my mother to get my brother. >> Is that true, Sydney? Yeah, that's true.

I grow up with them but they were Some criminal came in and killed his father, mother and sister.

>> Yeah, because of his brother. He used to His brother used to work like this with that

criminal. Did the guy get caught? No, they killed him. The mob killed him. A mob killed him? Yeah, the mob killed

him. I was there as well. Not to say I was a criminal. I grow up with them. We are from the very same area.

Yeah. The time they killed Makusha I was there. With a many ties for truck. He put him inside then he took a petrol.

He make him like that. What was the last thing you did, you two? We took four cars last night.

>> Last night, where? In Benoni. In Benoni? >> Yes, we waiting for buyer now.

You're looking You're waiting for a buyer. How did you get them? We keep with that gun. What can we do? Only

money that I want. And and to hurt people? Yeah, the people I will show you with

your last born if you don't want to give me a money. I will show you with your last born. Took him to shower or to the

hot shower. I like to show you that I want money. Or to the oven microwave. I put him like

this to the oven then you see I want money. If I've got a child there you're saying

you would you would hurt the child to to find out the information? >> I put it in oven. I make oven on.

You want to give us. You never give me. You never give me or I took your wife I

put it I I take your wife I put it a knife here.

Like example you see the blood. I say I finish up now. You don't give me money or you give me.

What can you say? You will give me. No other way.

Is he serious? I can't tell if he when the when he's joking. These people they're cruel.

Not that cruel. Last week's paper on I don't remember what page

his face my Maleven's face was there. They they they are wanted. They were his his face was on the paper.

But they don't care. They feel [ __ ] all even to kill somebody.

[Music] Maleven's crimes seemed almost unbelievable in their viciousness.

A childhood of violence and utter despair had instilled in him a kind of sadism and a willingness to do harm that

was in turn creating more fear and more victims. [Music]

I was back with Red Ants. With a 300 strong force they were retaking a hijacked building in an

industrial area not far from Hillbrow. They'd evicted the same building a couple of years before amid scenes of

heavy fighting only to have it taken back by criminals. [Music]

But on this day they encountered no resistance. Do you speak English?

>> Me? Yeah. What do you understand what's happening today? Yes, I do understand what's

happening today. What is it? What's happening today? We're going out of the flat.

And you're not paying rent. You're not paying anything. You're just sitting in the flat. So there is

They already warned us early in the morning but They warned you this morning?

>> They warned us this this morning. It was about 7:00. Did they? Did they, yes. >> That they were going to come to evict

you? No, they didn't explain that yet. They They are going to come and evict us.

They only said that it's a warning. After a week we're supposed to be out. They said that this morning? This

morning. They said after a week. So I think it may be it's supposed to be next week.

Have you liked living here? Too much. It has a very nice place. Who is it? Too much. It has a very nice

place. [Music] There was a sense of futility hanging

over the entire enterprise. Those people charged with protecting residents and providing services face a

seemingly impossible challenge with millions of the jobless and the homeless from all over Africa seeking refuge

here. We'll go back. I'm telling you. That security is not strong enough. You

think so? Yeah. It's not strong enough. You think they'll take the building

back? I'm telling you. They will. They will. They will.

[Music] [Music] I was out for one last patrol with Bad

Boys. Our day starting with a visit to the spot where one of their colleagues had

recently been killed. This is basically this is the building? This is the building?

>> they put him on the the first floor. They shot him here, isn't it? Yeah. The murderer had himself later been killed

and there were rumors of Bad Boys involvement. He was right here and you got the guy

who did it. Yeah, he got shot also. Didn't Bad Boys kind of deal with him? No. No.

No, Bad Boys didn't do any shooting. Why are you smiling, Lionel? It was It was a lovely day.

There's no rain. It's a sensitive sensitive topic. Anything but a topic. One of our guys,

you know, got killed. As you know, the case opened, the detectives came and

then, you know, We have nothing to do with the with the with the other thing what happened to

the other guy. He was shot by somebody else. So, yeah. You have to say that, don't

you? We just We were just concerned about, you know, one of our colleagues. That's it.

Do you have to be careful how you talk about some of the things that Bad Boys do?

No, well, everything we do is within the law. We can't take the law in our own hands. We have to work within the law.

We are a security company. We are not vigilantes. Anything else?

A little later and back in the high drugs area of Hillbrow, we ran into the Nigerian crime boss

known as the Chairman. You said you got a problem? Yeah, I got a problem. That's off my

business, see? With your business? Yeah, my business. Is Lionel going to help you with the problem?

Can Lionel help you? >> he No, he used to help me before. Has he? Lionel, you helped the Chairman?

Depends on the Depends on the problem, you see. More than ever, I wondered about the

line Bad Boys had to walk and the compromises they had to make working in such lawless areas.

He seemed to think you were going to help him a bit. The truth is I don't know what to Why?

>> know what he did What he What he told me was going to help him. It depends what what what if he's a if he's really have

a problem then I can assist him. Not in his business, whatever he wants to do, but if any other problem

>> Because he's a he's a drug dealer. No, that's what he >> he's a big time drug dealer.

Anything We're all human beings, you know what I'm saying? We're all human beings. I mean, he's not

How can I say? He's not a threat to me. He's not a threat to you? You don't want to see him

gone from the area? >> he's pulling the area down, isn't he? There's millions of them doing it.

If he goes now, there's 5,000 Nigerians who will go in his place. So, it's not solving the

problem. You understand getting rid of him? There's Every Every day somebody else

takes it takes his place. Isn't it possible that the Chairman is involved in violent crime? It could be possible.

But eventually, they're not going to be here anymore. Once we take over this building here and

we we're going to put this build this whole area in zones. We're going to have street patrols on

the street. So, for the moment >> to push them somewhere else.

So, for the moment, you'd rather have a a criminal here who you have a relationship with rather than some other

criminals who aren't at all cooperative. Well, at the end of the day, it's not my duty.

It's a police's duty to come and arrest him and prosecute him and put him in jail.

Can I Do you understand So, What's your duty, then? My duty? My duty is

I get paid to protect people. I get paid to protect businesses, individual people.

I don't I don't get paid to lock up Nigerians as drug dealers. It's not my job description.

[Music] Private security firms are helping to keep the peace in Johannesburg, but only

for a fee and in part by resorting to violence themselves. [Music]

In the poorest areas, the lawmakers and the lawbreakers become almost indistinguishable

and residents are trapped in a cycle of crime and retribution that makes victims of the entire community.

My time in Johannesburg was nearly over, but before leaving, I wanted to make one last visit to William.

Having been cornered by an angry mob then arrested by the police, he was now back at home on bail.

They let you out? Uh well, I had paid 2.5. 2.5 what? Uh Put two 2000 500. Rand? Yeah, to come

out. What is that? About 150 pounds? I paid that to 2.5

and uh I on the 17th I go to court. Then I know you can hear it from there.

So, you've got a court date. What have they What have they charged you with? No, they charged me with assault.

Assault? The guy said you The guy said you assaulted him with a with a golf club.

Yeah, that's what he says. Then they wanted proof to say where the golf stick or whatever it is. Nothing

was found. Cuz when I was going to Ellis Park, But he was beaten. He nicely cooked.

But you say you didn't do it? No, well, that's You can't agree on the mob like that that you did it.

But you did do it. >> Yeah, I did do it to give him a lesson. These are property crimes, aren't they?

To do with money. Yeah. And and that doesn't make it okay. What you're doing is actually worse. You're assaulting

them physically. >> No, no, he must be assaulted. Then he goes and talks to the friend and

say, "There. Don't play there. You get so." It doesn't make it right. Even if he's done something wrong, which we

don't really know, it doesn't make it right for you to to beat him up like that so brutally. If you I way if it

this was yours, what could you do? Well, I would I mean, build higher fences, maybe, or call the

police. I mean, if I could catch the guy. >> No, you go you go to the police.

The police he gives them 20 rand or 30 rand around the corner, he's back. He comes to you.

Then he takes more because he knows you've got nowhere to do. What are you going to do?

Secure the property more more more carefully and build a higher fence, electrify the fence.

>> You can build the same height with that, they still climb and go in.

You're saying the system is broken? That there's no that the courts and the police don't dispense justice anymore?

>> you to court now and you have good connections. Tomorrow the following day I meet you there.

So, what are we going to do? Tell me what are we going to do after that?

KHUMBULA. OH NA [Music]

KHUMBULA. OH NA OH NA

[Applause] KHUMBULA. WOSHI DOLA.